In addition to his TV career, Dave was also a stage star, continuing his pantomime career, which he began in 1992. He was also able to fall back on his theatre experience after stepping away from screens. It was during his stint in Jack And The Beanstalk that the 61-year-old noticed something was wrong with his body.

The actor explained: "I began getting tingling in my legs and to lose mobility. It was very slow, but it was very painful. It was quite scary."

Before his 2024 diagnosis, Dave had known he was prediabetic due to routine blood tests. According to the NHS, the condition affects one in nine Brits and puts them at high risk of developing full-blown diabetes.

Although he always liked his food and sugar, Dave never thought it would happen to him because he believed he was in good health.

Yet, 10 years ago, the presenter's condition got worse, and he said: “At one point for a week or so, I couldn’t walk.”

At the hospital, he was given a confirmed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, a condition where the hormone insulin doesn’t work properly in the body, and the level of glucose becomes too high.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Dave recalled: "I realised it was my own doing, my own fault. But it was still an incredible shock. It was a frightening thing."

The TV star began taking medication to lower his blood sugar levels and managed his condition with a better diet, but then had another health scare after suffering a minor heart attack.

“It was like somebody had got a spiky nailed shoe and pushed it into my chest. It was a real wake-up call.”

At the time, Dave weighed 19 stone, but thanks to his new diet and walking, he lost a staggering seven stone. To keep track of his diabetes, Dave now wears a Dexcom ONE+ glucose monitor.

He added: “I’ve had a real battle. I don’t like the fact that there’s things I’ve had to give up. But having diabetes made me aware of making good decisions about my lifestyle. I want to be around for as long as possible."